I am speaking of their eventual evolution: as it is, no, they cannot love either. The simulation of mud is not the same as love and nor would it have similar utility in reproduction, self-sacrifice, etc. As in many things, context matters and something not biological fundamentally cannot have the context of biology beyond its training, while even simple cells will alter based on its chemical environment, etc, and is vastly more part of the world.
I am speaking of their eventual evolution: as it is, no, they cannot love either. The simulation of mud is not the same as love and nor would it have similar utility in reproduction, self-sacrifice, etc. As in many things, context matters and something not biological fundamentally cannot have the context of biology beyond its training, while even simple cells will alter based on its chemical environment, etc, and is vastly more part of the world.